Producer David Mirvish announced Nov. 19 that the popular, all-Canadian, Dora Award-winning musical production of We Will Rock You, featuring music by Queen, will extend its engagement to Feb. 1, 2009, at the Panasonic Theatre in Toronto.

Additionally, starting Dec. 2 (and continuing to Jan. 27, 2009) an extra performance per week "at an irresistible ticket price" will be added to the playing schedule. Beginning Dec. 2, We Will Rock You will play on Tuesday evenings and every seat in the theatre will cost $20. This new promotion is being called "Ten Toonie Tuesdays." An added matinee Tuesday Dec. 23 is also at this price. There are ten $20 performance opportunities. For the uninitiated, a "Toonie" is a two-dollar Canadian coin — so ten "Toonies" equals $20.

Explains David Mirvish: "Since the very first performance of We Will Rock You in Toronto almost two years ago, it was clear this was a show that would develop a grassroots fan base. And that's exactly what has happened — the show has a big base of fans who have seen the show dozens of times. These people have come to know many of the cast members very well, have posted pages on the Internet about the show and have become our production's best ambassadors. Tuesdays nights are our way of saying thanks to them and of increasing their numbers. I've no doubt our new Ten Toonie Tuesdays promotions will mean that Tuesday nights will really rock at the Panasonic Theatre beginning Dec. 2."

We Will Rock You, a new future-set musical based on the songs of Queen, now in its 19th week at the Panasonic Theatre, moved to that venue after playing 61 weeks at the Canon Theatre.

The all-Canadian cast features Yvan Pedneault as Galileo, Erica Peck as Scaramouche, Alana Bridgewater (Menopause Out Loud!) as the Killer Queen, Camilla Scott (Mamma Mia!, Crazy For You) as Khashoggi, Jack Langedijk (Kiss of the Spider Woman, A Streetcar Named Desire) as Pop, Sterling Jarvis (Disney's The Lion King) as Duff and Valerie Stanois as Oz. We Will Rock You is Dora Award winner for Best Musical.

Originally scheduled to play seven weeks, the show was quickly extended again and again. At the Canon, it played 61 weeks and was seen by more than 700,000 people, generating "an estimated economic spin-off to the city of $180 million," according to producers, "and provided employment to more than 300 Canadian artists, technicians and theatre support staff."

With Brian May and Roger Taylor as music supervisors, We Will Rock You is written and directed by Ben Elton ("The Young Ones," "Blackadder," The Beautiful Game and Popcorn) and features 32 of Queen's greatest hits. The creative team includes Mark Fisher (production designer), Willie Williams (lighting designer), Bobby Aitken (sound designer), Tim Goodchild (costume designer) and Arlene Phillips (choreographer).

"Set 300 years in the future, in a time when live music is banned on earth, We Will Rock You is about the rebellious kids, fighting against the all-powerful Globalsoft Corporation that controls their lives and feeds them a diet of synthesized pop. Could the young Galileo and Scaramouche be the heroes needed who will help them 'break free' of their chains to rediscover themselves and live music?"

We Will Rock You is produced by David Mirvish and The Kimsa Group, in association with Queen Theatrical Productions, Phil McIntyre Entertainment and Tribeca Theatrical Productions. The show is now in its sixth year in London, and has seen productions in Australia, Spain, Russia and South Africa and is now playing in England, Switzerland, Germany, Japan and Spain.

For tickets, call (416) 872-1212 or (800) 461-3333 or visit www.mirvish.com or www.wewillrockyou.ca.

Sterline Jarvis and the Toronto company of We Will Rock You.
Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann